More than a month after federal officials recommended a new version of the COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot. One expert calls the numbers “abysmal.”
The current booster was based on the XBB.1.5 Omicron sub-variant. Therefore it’s expected to also be effective against the current dominate strains that are directly related, like BA.2.86 and EG.5. So it’s worth getting, it’ll be some protection against the most common strains right now.
Of course once we roll through the winter into the spring and there are several more mutations and a new dominant strain, it’ll be time to start the process over again.
Thanks for the information. I pro-vaccine, but I can’t say I’m super excited about the possibility of taking a vaccine every season as mutations keep popping up. What is the efficacy of the vaccine if only 7% of people are taking it?
With a low take rate among the population, it does little for stopping the spread, sadly… at that point, it’s really just to boost your own immunity and shorten/lessen the duration and effects if you do catch it.
I just got mine, and I need to get my kids scheduled. My wife and I both work at home, my kids being in school is the most likely infection source these days.
I would rather we all have it if only for the lessened impact, I won’t even pretend it’s going to prevent infection given how many people out there won’t get it.
I’ve been much more pro-annual flu shots since a baby died at our daycare from the flu. I was never against it, I just didn’t think it was a big deal (because I was young and healthy). But now, if my getting a shot every year can help prevent a family from losing a child, I’m all in. It’s the least I can do.
The current booster was based on the XBB.1.5 Omicron sub-variant. Therefore it’s expected to also be effective against the current dominate strains that are directly related, like BA.2.86 and EG.5. So it’s worth getting, it’ll be some protection against the most common strains right now.
Of course once we roll through the winter into the spring and there are several more mutations and a new dominant strain, it’ll be time to start the process over again.
Thanks for the information. I pro-vaccine, but I can’t say I’m super excited about the possibility of taking a vaccine every season as mutations keep popping up. What is the efficacy of the vaccine if only 7% of people are taking it?
With a low take rate among the population, it does little for stopping the spread, sadly… at that point, it’s really just to boost your own immunity and shorten/lessen the duration and effects if you do catch it.
I just got mine, and I need to get my kids scheduled. My wife and I both work at home, my kids being in school is the most likely infection source these days.
I would rather we all have it if only for the lessened impact, I won’t even pretend it’s going to prevent infection given how many people out there won’t get it.
I’ve been much more pro-annual flu shots since a baby died at our daycare from the flu. I was never against it, I just didn’t think it was a big deal (because I was young and healthy). But now, if my getting a shot every year can help prevent a family from losing a child, I’m all in. It’s the least I can do.
Think of it like your flu shot you already get every year